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Selection of microsatellite loci for genetic monitoring of sloth bears

Selection of microsatellite loci for genetic monitoring of sloth bears

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a threatened species endemic to the Indian subcontinent. To date, no reliable method has been developed for identifying individuals or monitoring their populations. Here we describe a non-invasive genetic monitoring technique for individual identification of sloth bears. After testing 18 microsatellites developed for other carnivore species, including ursids, we optimized a panel of 7 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci that yielded a cumulative Probability of Identity between siblings value of 2.15E-03. We used this panel to identify 55 individual sloth bears from 190 fecal and 4 hair samples collected in tiger reserves in central India. This panel can be used for population genetic studies and population monitoring of sloth bears.

  • Author(s) Sandeep Sharma and Trishna Dutta and Jesús E. Maldonado and Thomas C. Wood and Hemendra Singh Panwar and John Seidensticker
  • Volume 24
  • Issue 2
  • Pages 164-169
  • Publication Date 1 December 2013
  • DOI 10.2192/ursus-d-13-00001.1
  • File Size 133.07 KB
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